Inspection apparatus for sheet

ABSTRACT

An inspection apparatus for a sheet of paper subjected to a process to impart a translucent property including a “watermark” or a “security window” includes: an inspection cylinder in which a surface facing the sheet of paper is provided with a blackened portion; IR-LED illuminators which irradiate the sheet of paper with light containing infrared rays; an IR monochrome camera which images the sheet; an IR filter which eliminates visible light in the light emitted from the IR-LED illuminators and reflected off the sheet as well as the inspection cylinder and makes only the infrared rays incident on the IR monochrome camera; and a control device which determines appropriateness of a processed portion on the sheet having the translucent property on the basis of the infrared rays emitted from the IR-LED illuminators, reflected off the sheet as well as the inspection cylinder, and made incident on the IR monochrome camera.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an inspection apparatus for a sheetsubjected to a process to impart a translucent property such as a“watermark” or a “security window”.

BACKGROUND ART

In order to prevent counterfeiting, printing products such as bank notesand securities are often subjected to a process to impart a translucentproperty such as a “watermark” or a “security window” onto a sheetsurface or to the inside of the sheet apart from ordinary patternportions. The “watermark” is a distinguishable image or marking thatappears more brightly on paper upon its irradiation with light (or moredarkly with light reflected against a dark background). A typicalwatermark is textured in its manufacturing process by partially changingthe thicknesses of the paper with a water-coated metal stamp or the liketo form an embossed portion and a recessed portion on the paper. Anotherspecial watermark used in bank notes and the like is called a shadedwatermark. In contrast to the typical watermark, the shaded watermarkemploys a technique to increase the thickness of a portion correspondingto an image or marking. In this way, the shaded watermark can expressgradation of shades and thus achieve picturesque expression. Meanwhile,the “security window” means a transparent region consisting of a film ofa transparent polymer sheet without base printing on both sides. Aportrait or characters may further be printed in the security window.

Accordingly, printing products subjected to the process to impart a“watermark” or a “security window” need to be inspected for theircontours and locations.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

{Patent Literature 1} Japanese Patent Application Publication No.2010-221410

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

Although various inspection apparatuses including the one in PatentLiterature 1 have heretofore been proposed as inspection apparatuses forpattern portions printed with an ordinary ink, there have been nomeasures to inspect a printing product subjected to a process to imparta translucent properly such as a “watermark” or a “security window” forits contour and location.

The present invention has been made to solve the aforementioned problem.An object of the present invention is to provide an inspection apparatusfor a sheet, which is capable of conducting detailed inspection of aprinting product subjected to a process to impart a translucent propertysuch as a “watermark” or a “security window” for its contour andlocation.

Solution to Problem

The inspection apparatus for a sheet of the present invention forsolving the foregoing problem is an inspection apparatus for a sheetsubjected to a process to impart a translucent property, characterizedin that the inspection apparatus includes: a support member in which asurface facing the sheet is blackened; a light source configured toirradiate the sheet with light containing infrared rays; imaging meansfor imaging the sheet; an infrared filter configured to eliminatevisible light in the light emitted from the light source and reflectedoff the sheet and the support member, and to make only the infrared raysincident on the imaging means; and a control device configured todetermine appropriateness of the process to impart a translucentproperty performed on the sheet on the basis of the infrared raysemitted from the light source, reflected off the sheet and the supportmember, and made incident on the imaging means.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the inspection apparatus for a sheet: of the presentinvention, the infrared rays emitted from the light source penetratesonly the processed portion having the translucent property such as a“watermark” or a “security window” and is absorbed by the black surfaceportion of the support member, whereby the processed portion appears inblack at the time of imaging it by the imaging means whereas an ordinarypattern portion directly reflects the infrared rays and thereby appearsin white. Thus, it is possible to conduct detailed inspection of theprocessed portion having the translucent property such as the“watermark” or the “security window” for the contour and locationthereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an inspection apparatusaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a control block diagram according to the embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of a pattern portion on a piece of paper.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT

An inspection apparatus for a sheet according to the present inventionwill be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an inspection apparatusaccording to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is acontrol block diagram thereof. Meanwhile, FIG. 3 is an explanatory viewof a pattern portion on a piece of paper.

As shown in FIG. 1, a sheet of paper (a sheet) W subjected to a processto impart a translucent property such as a “watermark” or a “securitywindow” by a not-shown processing machine is delivered to an inspectioncylinder (a support member; note that an impression cylinder or atransfer cylinder may replace the inspection cylinder) 45. A surface ofthe inspection cylinder 45 is provided with a blackened portion 45 a ina predetermined thickness.

Then, the sheet of paper W inspected for its printing quality by meansof an inspection apparatus 40 provided facing the peripheral surface ofthe inspection cylinder 45 is sent to a sheet delivery unit vianot-shown conveying means, and is then stacked on a delivery pile board(a pile).

The inspection apparatus 40 is configured to inspect a processed portionof the sheet of paper W where a translucent property such as a“watermark” or a “security window” is imparted. The inspection apparatus40 includes: a pair (or any other number) of IR-LED illuminators (suchas light sources with a peak wavelength at 850 nm) 41 a and 41 b; one IRmonochrome camera (imaging means) 42 configured to image the sheet ofpaper W; an IR filter (an infrared filter) 43 configured to eliminatelight components having wavelengths equal to or shorter than wavelengths(such as 720 nm) of visible light from the light emitted from the IR-LEDilluminators 41 a and 41 b and reflected off the sheet of paper W aswell as the blackened portion 45 a of the inspection cylinder 45, and tomake only the infrared rays incident on the IR monochrome camera 42; anda control device 46 configured to determine appropriateness of aprocessed portion of the sheet of paper W having a translucent propertysuch as a “watermark” or a “security window” on the basis of theinfrared rays emitted from the IR-LED illuminators 41 a and 41 b,reflected off the sheet of paper W as well as the blackened portion 45 aof the inspection cylinder 45, and made incident on the IR monochromecamera 42.

The IR monochrome camera 42 is provided in a direction of a normal N tothe center line (the cylinder axis) of the inspection cylinder 45, andis supported by a not-shown apparatus frame via a support frame 44 in aposition at which to image an imaging plane of the sheet of paper W in aperpendicular direction. The IR-LED illuminators 41 a and 41 b are alsosupported by the apparatus frame via not-shown support frames.

Next, an optical and electrical configuration of the inspectionapparatus 40 of the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.2. As described above, the inspection apparatus 40 includes the IRmonochrome camera 42 configured to image the sheet of paper W, and thecontrol device 46 configured to inspect the processed portion of thesheet of paper W having the translucent property on the basis of animaging output from the IR monochrome camera 42. The IR monochromecamera 42 includes an optical system having a lens 42 a, and a CCD(charge coupled device) 42 b configured to convert an image formed bythe optical system into an electric signal.

The control device 46 includes: a reference memory 50 configured tostore a reference image signal; a detection memory 51 configured tostore a detection image signal; a memory controller 55 configured tocontrol writing and reading of the signals in and out of the referencememory 50 and the detection memory 51; a determination level settingcircuit 52 configured to set an allowable level difference between apair of signals read out of the reference memory 50 and the detectionmemory 51; a comparison circuit 53 configured to compare the pair ofsignals in consideration of the allowable level difference set by thedetermination level setting circuit 52; an amplifier 56 configured toamplify an output from the CCD 42 b; an A/D converter 57 configured toperform analog-to-digital conversion of an output from the amplifier 56and to output the converted output to the memory controller 55; acorrection circuit 58 configured to adjust gains of the amplifier 56;and a CCD controller 59 configured to control the CCD 42 b.

At the start of a printing job, the reference memory 50 stores referenceimage data which are read out of the processed portion having thetranslucent property, which is processed normally on the sheet of paperW. Here, the reference memory 50 stores different image data for eachprinting job. The detection memory 51 stores detection image data readout of the sheet of paper W as an object of inspection.

The memory controller 55 controls writing and reading of the data in andout of the reference memory 50 and the detection memory 51. Thedetermination level setting circuit 52 presets the allowable leveldifference between the reference image data read out of the referencememory 50 and the detection image data read out of the detection memory51.

If the level difference between the reference image data and thedetection image data read by the memory controller 55 is equal to orabove the allowable level difference set by the determination levelsetting circuit 52, the comparison circuit 53 outputs a signalindicating that the quality of the processed portion having thetranslucent property is defective. Specifically, pieces of the referenceimage data and pieces of the detection image data corresponding topixels of the CCD 42 b are compared on a one-for-one basis, whereby thelevels of the two types of data corresponding to the respective pixelsare compared. A defective signal is outputted if any one of the leveldifferences is equal to or above the allowable level difference.

To be more precise, the comparison circuit 53 performs a firstcomparison operation to sequentially compare the pieces of the referenceimage data read out of the reference memory 50 with the pieces of thedetection image data read out of the detection memory 51 on the pixelbasis. Next, the comparison circuit 53 performs a second comparisonoperation to compare the level differences between the pairs of signalsobtained by the first comparison operation with the allowable leveldifference outputted from the determination level setting circuit 52. Ifany of the level differences of the pairs of signals is greater than theallowable level difference as a result of the second comparisonoperation, the comparison circuit 53 outputs a defective signalindicating that the processed portion having the translucent property,which is processed on the sheet of paper W, as the object of inspection,is defective.

The correction circuit 58 adjusts the gains of the amplifier 56 inaccordance with a rotating speed of the inspection cylinder 45.Specifically, even when the same amount of light is incident on the IRmonochrome camera 42, an output level of the CCD 42 b becomes smaller asthe rotating speed of the inspection cylinder 45 is faster. For thisreason, an influence of the rotating speed is eliminated by thecorrection circuit 58. A phase signal of the inspection cylinder 45 issupplied to the memory controller 55, the comparison circuit 53, thecorrection circuit 58, and the CCD controller 59. A reference valuememory signal is supplied to the memory controller 55. A determinationstart signal is supplied to the memory controller 55 and the comparisoncircuit 53.

The phase signal is originated from an output signal of a rotary encoder(not shown) configured to detect a rotational phase of the inspectioncylinder 45. The phase signal includes a reference pulse which rises foreach turn of the inspection cylinder 45, and a clock pulse which risesonce at every predetermined number of turns of the inspection cylinder45. The reference value memory signal is a signal used for causing thereference image data to be read into the reference memory 50 through thememory controller 55, and is supplied by an operation of a referencevalue memory switch (not shown) by an operator. The determination startsignal is a signal instructing the start of the comparison operationbetween the reference image data and the detection image data, and issupplied by an operation of a determination start switch (not shown) bythe operator.

In the above-described configuration, acquisition of the reference imagedata corresponding to the processed portion having the translucentproperty, which is processed on the sheet of paper W, takes place as apre-process of a quality inspection step. First, the operator confirms acondition of the print on the sheet of paper W in the course of testprinting using the sheet of paper W. When the condition of the print isconfirmed to be fine, the supply of the reference value memory signal tothe control device 46 is started by the operation of the reference valuememory switch. Once a reference signal indicating a reference positionof the inspection cylinder 45 is outputted from the rotary encoder,acquisition of the reference image data from the sheet of paper W heldand conveyed by the inspection cylinder 45 is started, and the acquireddata are stored in the reference memory 50.

After the reference image data on the sheet of paper W held and conveyedby the inspection cylinder 45 are stored in the reference memory 50,determination processing is started by supplying the determination startsignal. In the determination processing, first of all, in response tothe rotation of the inspection cylinder 45, detection image data on thesheet of paper W held and conveyed by the inspection cylinder 45 areread into the detection memory 51, as in the case of reading thereference image data. Next, the detection image data read in thedetermination processing are compared with the reference image datastored in advance. Then, appropriateness of the processed portion havingthe translucent property processed on the sheet of paper W is determinedbased on whether or not the level values of the two types of data fallwithin the corresponding allowable level difference.

For example, FIG. 3 shows an image taken with the IR monochrome camera42. Here, in each of numerous pieces (such as bank notes and securities)Wa on the sheet of paper W as the object of inspection, the infraredrays emitted from the IR-LED illuminators 41 a and 41 b onto the imagingplane pass only through a processed portion IE having the translucentproperty processed on the sheet of paper W and are absorbed by theblackened portion 45 a of the inspection cylinder 45.

Accordingly, the incidence onto the IR monochrome camera 42 takes placewhile the processed portion IE having the translucent property appearsin black. On the other hand, a pattern portion VE printed with anordinary visible ink reflects the infrared rays directly and appears inwhite.

As a consequence, it is possible to conduct detailed inspection of thecontour and location of the processed portion IE having the translucentproperty such as a “watermark” or a “security window.”

In this way, the inspection apparatus 40 according to the embodiment caninspect the processed portion IE having the translucent property andfurther enhance the printing quality of the sheet of paper W.

Needless to say, the present invention is not limited only to theforegoing embodiment and various changes are possible without departingfrom the gist of the present invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The inspection apparatus for a sheet according to the present inventionis applicable to a special printing press for printing bank notes,securities, and the like, where quality management is important.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

40 INSPECTION APPARATUS

41 a, 41 b IR-LED ILLUMINATOR (LIGHT SOURCE)

42 IR MONOCHROME CAMERA (IMAGING MEANS)

42 a LENS

42 b CCD (CHARGE COUPLED DEVICE)

43 IR FILTER (INFRARED FILTER)

44 SUPPORT FRAME

45 INSPECTION CYLINDER (SUPPORT MEMBER)

45 a BLACKENED PORTION

46 CONTROL DEVICE

50 REFERENCE MEMORY

51 DETECTION MEMORY

52 DETERMINATION LEVEL SETTING CIRCUIT

53 COMPARISON CIRCUIT

55 MEMORY CONTROLLER

56 AMPLIFIER

57 A/D CONVERTER

58 CORRECTION CIRCUIT

59 CCD CONTROLLER

W SHEET OF PAPER (SHEET)

Wa PIECE OF PAPER (BANK NOTE, SECURITY, etc.)

IE PROCESSED PORTION HAVING TRANSLUCENT PROPERTY

VE PATTERN PORTION PRINTED WITH VISIBLE INK

The invention claimed is:
 1. An inspection apparatus for a sheetsubjected to a process to impart a translucent property, comprising: asupport member in which a surface facing the sheet is blackened; a lightsource configured to irradiate the sheet with light containing infraredrays; an image capturing device that captures an image of the sheet; aninfrared filter configured to eliminate visible light in the lightemitted from the light source and reflected off the sheet and thesupport member, and to make only the infrared rays incident on the imagecapturing device; and a control device configured to determine whetherprocess to impart a translucent property performed on the sheet iswithin a predetermined range on the basis of the infrared rays emittedfrom the light source, reflected off the sheet and the support member,and made incident on the image capturing device.